Polio In Africa

Polio in Africa was confined to the region of Nigeria but previously polio-free countries have reported polio outbreaks. According to CDC 2024, hunting countries reporting polio cases include Burkina Faso, Benin, Ethiopia, Uganda, Cameroon, Mozambique, DCR, Zambia and CAR. South Africa remains polio free.

Polio is a serious hazard to unimmunized travellers to developing countries with poor hygiene standards and low immunization rates in local inhabitants.

Polio Facts

• Polio is caused by a virus.
• It is spread from person to person via nose or throat mucus or faecal contamination of food or drink.

Polio Symptoms

• Initial non-specific fever, headache, muscle pain including neck stiffness.
• There maybe a short symptom-free interval before muscle pains return and paralysis develops.
• Paralysis may be limited to a single limb or may spread to involve the whole body.

Summary For African Travellers and Hunters

• Make sure your polio vaccination is up-to-date and be aware of good hygiene practices.
• Adult travellers to Africa who were fully vaccinated during childhood should receive an additional (single) lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

More On African Hunt Health

• Health Before Hunt
• Health During Hunt
• Health After Hunt
• Polio In Africa
• Cholera In Africa
• Tetanus In Africa
• Tuberculosis In Africa
• Measles In Africa
• Yellow Fever In Africa
• Typhoid In Africa
• Meningitis In Africa
• Hepatitis In Africa
• Rabies In Africa
• Schistosomiasis In Africa
• Malaria In Africa
• Malaria In African Hunting Countries
• African Tick Bite Fever
• Sleeping Sickness
• Insect Repellents For Africa

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Page Updated: Mar 2024